Tennis game



Aug. 23, 1938. c LE GUILLQUI v 2,1275873 TENNIS GAME 7 Filed June 9, 1937 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 25 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for playing tennis and more particularly to improvements in table tennis games, for example that known as ping-pong and to the instrumentalities, arrangement and combination of parts comprising the same.

The following description will be more particularly addressed to an embodiment of my invention for playing table tennis but, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto.

The features to be described and claimed may be.

employed with equal advantage in other devices where similar features are useful.

In general, table tennis devices comprise an elongated table or fiat board suitably supported by a stand or corner legs, and having a center not which is a miniature replica of the type generally employed in tennis. Players are positioned and stand at opposite ends of the playing board,

which has field lines marked thereon and by means of suitable racquets or flat bats impel a light weight pellet, generally of celluloid and substantially small in size, across 1e intervening center net, to each other in accordance with the rules of the game. During play a large percentage of balls are directed outwardly from the sides of the table and are propelled to the floor or ground support some distance away. Such balls must be generally retrieved by one or another of the players with the result that continuous play is prevented and much time is lost. Moreover, many players physically tire of chasing the pellets and subsequently lose interest in the game. I am aware that fixed side nets have been proposed in a Shufile tennis game by Frowd et a1. 1,553,682 granted Sept. 15, 1932 but such act to return balls to the playing board and also interrupt play. In addition to the foregoing no consideration mhas heretofore been given to adapting the playing board to the particular needs of children or even grownups of different heights. It will beunderstoodthat age is no bar to playing table tennis but, that a high playing board may bar \the player. Furthermore, the playing board is quite long, about nine feet long, and it is difficult for young as well as many older players to retrieve dead balls, (ball out of play) that roll or are stopped at the center net.

It is the general object of the present invention to overcome the faults and inconveniences ofprior playing instrumentalities and to provide suitable means for accomplishing such'ends and provide continuous and enjoyable play.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of sloping side nets or barriers at the opposite sides of the playing surface for preventing a majority of balls in play from falling upon the floor or ground; the provision of receiving channels adjacent to the side edges of the board, 5 communicating with the side nets to receive balls striking the nets and thus prevent their return to the playing board; the provision of receiving channels below the plane of the playing surface and which are pitched sufiiciently whereby balls in play stopped by the side nets may roll therein and return to one or the other of the players; the provision of side nets connected to spring rollers which are supported in the ball receiving channels adjacent to the playing surface and whereby the nets maybe wound or unwound to any desired length and may be slack or tight; the provision of adjustable supportsfor the barrier nets or the like; the provision of means for retrieving balls which come to rest at the net or adjacent thereto and which means may comprise swing arms, rotatable vanes or other impacting or wind producing devices together with means for operating the same mechanically or manually from either end of the playing board; the provision of a playing board having supports adjustable for the height or age of the players and which has marked upon the adjustable means suitable information to enable equal adjustment of all supports to obtain a level playing surface; the provision of a detachable center-net which may be released from one side support and manually or mechanically wound upon a roll connected with the adjacent support, both supports being so constituted as to be readily removable or swung out of position to permit use of the playing surface for other games.

These and other objects of the invention relating to the improved playing devices, the novel association of parts and the improved assembly and application thereof, and all its parts and combinations, will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out in the subsequent detailed description and the claims, and the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, which however must be considered as merely illustrating a preferred embodiment and in no way limiting the invention to the embodiment shown and described. It will be understood that certain aspects of my invention are applicable to different forms of tennis and to other similar games and their broad application is contemplated. It will also be understood that all modifications including featuresof construction, combination of ele- 7 tennis.

ments and arrangement of parts as may be within the spirit of the invention are contemplated.

In the drawing wherein similar parts are designated by similar numerals:

Figure l is a plan view of a game board equipped with the novel features of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation View of the construction shown in Figure 1, and showing the side nets in position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section and taken at 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4. is an enlarged section through a centre net standard and Figure 5 is a modification of the operating means for actuating the ball return mechanism.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1-5 of the drawing, the objects of my invention will be better understood from a consideration of a preferred embodiment of my invention which com prises a playing board ID, of wood or composition material suitable for the purposes herein described and suitably marked with a playing field of the character generally used in playing indoor This board is usually about nine feet by five feet, but, it will be understood that my invention is not limited by these dimensions. This board is provided with suitable supports for example legs l2, preferably rigidly fastened to the under side of the board at each corner thereof, and which are preferably provided with adjustable telescoping extensions 14 held rigid by suitable means, for instance, a clamp screw or other locking means !6, located near the end of a reduced portion l8, of the leg. The legs l2 may,

however, be hinged so that the legs may be folded against the table to make a compact arrangement for storage. The extensions are furthermore preferably marked with figures and suitable indices to simplify setting of the board to appropriate heights and to permit expeditious adjustment and levelling thereof.

Also secured to the under side of the board and serving to brace the supporting legs are channels 20, preferably extending the length of the playing board co-extensive with the longitudinal side edges of the board. The channels are preferably made of sheet metal for instance aluminum or galvanized iron which will resist corrosion in weathering. The channel may have a flat upper face 22, secured against the under side of the board, a flat vertical face 24, secured against the legs l2, and a lower semi-circular portion 26 which is a continuation of the vertical face and ends in an edge portion 28 directed toward the under face of the board and substantially in line with the outer edge thereof. This edge is so positioned so that a considerable opening exists between it and the under face of the board. As above stated a channel of the character described is located at each side of the table and serves as a receptacle for dead balls which have been hit out of the playing field. The ends of the channel are open but are provided near their extremities ,with suitable struck up tongues 30 or other end stops which will prevent the balls from dropping to the ground or floor yet will permit the insertion of a players hand to retrieve the ball so deposited. In order to accelerate or gravitate the balls re- .ceived in the channels to the stops, the channels edge 2B of each channel 20 by suitable brackets or the like is a roller 32 which may extend the full length of the playing board or may be split in several sections, for example two or more, to facilitate the use of practical lengths. It will be understood that in such instances the sections will comprise separate rollers and the adjacent ends of the rollers will be suitably supported in bearings mounted against the channels it. To this roller or rollers is secured a section of netting or material suitable to furnish side barriers or nets 34 for stopping balls in flight that have been hit outside of the playing field. The netting or the like may be in one piece but preferably consists of as many sections as there are rollers. The adjacent edges of the sections are maintained as close as possible together in order to bar the exit between adjacent sections of any balls striking the barrier. In order to employ a minimum of supports for the outer end of the barrier the various sections of the material if such be em ployed are preferably connected by a rod or stave 36. The member 36 is maintained in its position in space by means of suitable arms 38 pivotally connected to sliding collars 49 seated over the portion 3 of the legs [2. The arms 38 are also provided with telescoping sections 42 at their outer end which connect directly to the bar 36. The telescoping sections are maintained in position by clamp screws 44 and are suitably marked to permit accurate adjustment for length. It will be noted that the arms 38 depend for their support upon tension springs 46 which are connected to the arms 38 and to the leg portions I2 and pull the extending arms against the channel pieces 23. It will furthermore be noted that the collar 40 is provided with a suitable clamp screw 48 enabling the adjustment of this member up and down on the leg portion l8 to obtain the desired angle for the arm 38. The rollers 32 are preferably provided with suitable friction bearings so that the nets 34 may be readily rolled up when not in use. It is preferred, however, that the rollers be of a spring type such as is customarily employed for shade rollers so that the net or barrier may be unwound under tension and connected to the ex tremities of the arms 38. It will be understood that in such instances the nets will exert a slight upward pull against the arms 38 and will assist the spring 46 in maintaining the arms 38 against the channels. It will be observed that by the described means the side nets are capable of considerable adjustment and may be set to almost any angle and to various distances out from the board making a flexible arrangement that will enable its accommodation to indoor playing where space is at a premium as well as to the needs of individual players. It will be appreciated that balls striking the nets 34 will roll downwardly into the channel members 20 and thence to the stops 30 where they may be picked up by the players without the necessity of chasing such missiles. Furthermore it will be recognized that the parts may readily be disassembled, the nets being unhooked from the extension 42 and permitted to wind up on their respective rollers 32 and the arms 38 being collapsed and unhooked from the springs 46 and then be permitted to hang vertically, to create a compact assembly. Where the legs 24 are hinged the dropped arms 38 may be folded into a compact assembly with the legs.

It will be appreciated that the usual table provided for the instant game is too long to enable many players to retrieve balls which have become dead at the centre net and it is a further feature of my invention to provide means which will enable the delivery of such dead balls to the respective player without necessity for the player altering his position of play. I accomplish this by a unique structure which may also serve as the center net, post supports. On each side of the board midway its length, and near a side edge thereof, I mount a vertical shaft 50, having an upper hollowed end. The upper end is also provided with a shoulder 52 which rests upon the face of the board. Adjacent the shoulder 52 is a reduced annular portion 54, passing through a suitable opening in the board and having a free fit therewith. The lower end of the shaft projects from the lower face of the board and is further reduced in size as at 56. Over the reduced portion is pressed or clamped a lever arm 58. Preferably the arms 58 attached to the vertical shafts are positioned normally to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of the board, and with their ends projecting inwardly. Attached to the ends of the lever arms 58 are spring posts 60 to which are connected suitable tension springs 62 of proper length. The other ends of the springs are connected to suitable spring posts 64 secured to the under side of the board. The posts 64, are preferably located on a median line through the centers of the shafts 58, and so as to place the springs 62 under sufficient tension to hold the lever arms 58 in normal position. It will be understood that fixed ferrules may be mounted in the board openings to provide bearings for the shafts 58.

The hollowed upper end 66 of the vertical shafts 50 is preferably square shaped in section. Into .this square shaped recess of each shaft 58 is fitted a similar shaped extension of a hub 68, the function of which will be hereinafter described. The hub is mounted to be a push fit with the shaft 58 and as to respond to any rotation of the lower spring arm 58. The recess 88 may be circular if desired, whereupon suitable flat keys will preferably be provided to obtain simultaneous operation of the levers 58 and the hubs 58.

The hubs 68 are provided on their rotational axes with suitable bored openings into which are pressed net posts Ill provided with suitable rings 12 for attachment to the ends of the center net 14. One of these posts may carry a friction roller or spring roller I6 of the character provided for the side nets, so that the center net may be wound or unwound with respect to the same under tension and removed when the board is not in use. It will be noted that the lower edge of the center net is spaced from the face of the board by the height of the hub 68. It is preferred in such case to provide a sleeve not shown between the roller 18 and post 18. The sleeve is maintained in a fixed position by means also not shown whereby rotation of the roller 16 will be independent of any rotation of the post 10.

It has been previously described that hub 68 is fitted in the recess 66 of the shaft 50. Each hub has preferably fixed to it two parallel rods 18, preferably tubular and of light weight, one positioned above the other and both extending substantially the full length of thenet and parallel to the lever arms 58 in their normal position. The extending rods or fingers on each hub are also so positioned in elevation, with respect to the face of the board, that when the hubs 88 are rotated by the lever arms 58 the rods or finger 18 on the opposite hubs will pass each other without interference. It is preferred that the lowest rod or finger be on one hub, the next on ,the opposite hub and so on.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 of the drawing, that the opposite spring arms 58 are connected by a closed cable system. A cable 80 which may be a flexible cord is connected to a pin post 82, passes over a roller 84, at one end of the board, passes over a second roller 86 and is thereafter connected to the pin 82, of the opposite arm. Between the rollers 84 and 8B the cable is made slack and is weighted down by a mass 88. It is preferred that sufficient slack be permitted at each end of the board so that the cable may be readily grasped by the players at the respective ends.

Should a ball come to rest at the net or nearby, it is merely necessary for the player at the side of the net where the ball is grounded, to exert a pull on the cable, whereupon the lever arms 58 are actuated toward the player and cause the rods 18 to swing in a similar direction. It will be noted that each set of rods or fingers l8 sweeps out a considerable similar sector of the board surface and that the two sets of arms assume positions similar to the open arms of a scissor until they separate from each other. Thus the entire area adjacent the center net for a considerable distance back from the net is passed over by one or more of the swinging arms and any ball resting in this area is propelled toward the player.

Due to the scissorlike action of the rod 18 the ball is directed to the player in the general direction of the center of the board. In actuating the rod 18 the springs 62 of the operating mechanism are further extended and assume angular positions with respect to the arms 58. Upon release of the cable at the end where it is operated the spring 52 returns the arms 58, and thus the kicker rods 18 to normal position. It will be observed that when one side of the cable is actuated the slack at the other end is reduced. Upon release, the short side regains its length by reason of the weight 88 which returns the cable on the slack side to its original position.

A feature of the invention resides in the functioning of the same set of rods 18 and arms 58 upon either side of the center net in response to the pull of the cable by the player on such side, and with equal effect. In other words, the player on whose side of the net the dead ball lies operates the cable, and the ball is returned to him.

It will be understood that the spacerequired in elevation for the operating fingers or rods 18 do not in any way effect the game, since a ball which has hit the net at any point as low as the rod 18 is in any case out of play. The rod 18 should however be positioned in proper-relation to the size of the ball.

An alternative and simple means of operating the kicker rods or fingers I8 is illustrated in Fig. 5. According to this mode of operation the two springs 62 of the previously described system may be replaced by a single spring 90, the ends of which are connected to the spring posts 68 of the arms 58. If desired springs 62 may be used, whereupon the inner ends of the respective springs are connected by a tie rod 92. Connected to the center of the spring 98 or connecting link 92 as the case may be, is a straight cable or flexible cord 94 extending along the longitudinal center of the board. The opposite ends of the cable pass over rollers 96 and the cable ends carry weights 88. It will be seen that operation of the kicker rods is accomplished by pulling the cable in the manner previously recited.

It will be understood that a kicker system such as described can be made effective for table tennis ferred kicker mechanism I contemplate as a further feature of the invention, and particularly for table tennis boards, a ball returning mechanism comprising rotating vanes, not disclosed in the drawing, which may be caused to be operated by either player, either manually by means of a wound cord, or mechanically by means of a motor, controlled from either end of the board. If the ball is at the center net or nearby it will be either impelled by the vanes or blown within reach of the player by the air currents set up by the rotating vanes. It will be understood that the ball employed for table tennis is a very light weight pellet.

From a consideration of the foregoing preferred embodiments of my invention it will be seen that I have provided novel and improved mechanisms for playing tennis, particularly indoor tennis or board tennis embodying features that constitute .a distinct improvement over the prior art, and

which embody many novel features of construction and assembly. It will be evident that where the mechanism is used in connection with a playing board that the surface of the board may be .cleared of all apparatus readily, and quickly to permit its use for other games or to protect the parts from the weather if the board is used outdoors. It will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention 'appertains that the disclosed embodiments may be varied and or combined in numerous ways without departing from the spirit of the basic features I have presented. I therefore desire to secure for myself all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the foregoing specification, and I desire that the invention be construed to cover all equivalents and as broadly as the claims taken in conjunction with the prior art may allow.

I claim:

1. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising an elongated playing board, and sloping side barriers having channel-like ball receiving means adjacent the lower portion thereof, positioned adjacent the longitudinal sides of said board, said barriers being adjustable as to height and position with respect to the playing surface of said board.

2. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, a side barrier for stopping balls in flight, positioned adjacent a side edge of said board, said barrier being spaced from said side edge and a ball collecting receptacle adjacent said side edge communicating with said barrier.

3. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board and sloping side barriers mounted in spaced relation to certain sides of said board, the upper end of said barriers being above and outwardly of the playing surface of said board and the lower ends of said barriers having channel-like ball receiving means adjacent thereto and being below said playing surface.

4. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, a ball receiving channel below the playing surface of said board and a barrier for stopping balls in flight, said barrier spaced from a side of said playing board and communicating with said ball receiving channel.

5. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising an elongated playing board, ball receiving channels adjacent the longitudinal sides of said board, ball intercepting barriers extending upwardly and outwardly from said channels and means to support said barriers in their relative positions.

6. A game device as claimed in claim 4 including barrier supporting means and resilient means to maintain the barrier in position.

7. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, board supporting means adjacent a pair of opposite sides of the board, ball receiving channels adjacent said opposite sides and below the playing surface of said board, ball intercepting barriers, extending upwardly and outwardly from said channels and barrier supporting means extending outwardly from said board supporting means and connected with said barriers.

8. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, a flexible ball intercepting barrier, means to support said barrier outwardly of the playing surface of said board, and roller means upon which to wind said barrier.

9. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, supports for said playing board, ball receiving channels adjacent certain sides of said board, a spring roller secured to each channel, a flexible ball intercepting barrier connected to each roller and windable thereon, barrier supporting arms adjustably secured to said board supports and having end extensions, said extension being connectable with the ends of said barriers when said barriers are unwound and in position for play.

10. A game device adapted for use in games involving a resilient ball and a barrier out of reach of a player whereat a ball is likely to become dead in play, comprising a playing surface, a ball barrier at an angle to said surface and means between the lower end of said barrier, and the playing surface adapted to put dead balls adjacent the barrier into motion and return said balls to the player.

11. A game device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the ball actuating means comprises a kicker arm operable in a plane substantially paralleling the playing surface.

12. A game device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the ball actuating means comprises a rotating vane.

13. A game device as claimed in claim 10 including means to operate the ball actuating means from the normal position of the player.

14. A game device for tennis and the like comprising a playing surface having opposite ends, a center ball intercepting barrier, an elongated arm hinged at one end and movable in a plane substantially paralleling the playing surface, said hinged end located adjacent a side of the playing surface at one end of said barrier and means to operate said hinged arm.

15. A game device as claimed in claim 14 wherein a second arm is operable in a plane above the first arm and is hinged at the opposite end of said barrier.

16. A game device for table tennis and the like, comprising a playing board, a net extending transversely thereof and substantially normal to the playing field of said board, a pair of swingabl kicker arms each having a length in the order of the transverse dimension of said playing field, and having their axes of rotation at opposite ends of said net, and said arms lying in different planes and between the lower edge of said net and the plane of said playing field, a lever arm rigidly connected to each kicker arm, and having resilient means connected thereto adapted to normally maintain said kicker arms in a fixed relation to said net, and means connected to said lever arms whereby to operate said kicker arms and cause said kicker arms to sweep out a considerable area of the playing field adjacent said net.

17. A game device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the board has opposite ends and wherein the kicker arm mechanism includes means to actuate said arms from either end of the board and to move said arms in a direction toward the actuating end.

18. A game device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the net supports are coincident with the axes of rotation of said kicker arms and wherein said playing board has sloping ball intercepting barriers adjacent its longitudinal sides and ball receiving channels communicating with said barriers.

19. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board and a sloping barrier positioned adjacent a side of said board, said barrier comprising a flexible facing, hinged supporting means and resilient means between the barrier and board structure to maintain said barrier in its sloping position.

20. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, a pair of vertical supports at opposite ends of said board, slide members on said supports adjustable as to height, means to lock said slides in predetermined position, ball intercepting barrier arms carried by said slides and pivoted thereon said arms extending outwardly of the board and having an adjustable section to vary their length, means to lock the sections in predetermined position, and a flexible ball intercepting facing connected between each pair of said arms.

21. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, a flexible ball intercepting barrier adjacent a side of said board, means to support said barrier and an elongated pocket adjacent the lower portion of the barrier to receive balls striking said barrier without permitting return of said balls to the board.

22. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball, comprising a playing board, a ball receiving means adjacent a side of said board and sloped toward the opposite ends of said board and ball intercepting means adapted to communicate with said receiving means and extending upwardly and outwardly of said board.

23. A dead ball return device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball and having a playing surface including an area in which balls are likely to come to rest and out of reach of the player, comprising a pivoted arm operable in a plane substantially paralleling said playing surface and in proximity thereto and adapted to sweep out a considerable area of said playing surface and strike dead balls in said area and move said balls toward the player, and means to operate said arm.

24. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball on a playing board comprising side barriers for positioning adjacent the playing board surface and means to provide ball receiving channels at the lower portion of the barriers.

25. A game device adapted for use in games involving a bounding ball on a playing board, comprising a side barrier to be positioned adjacent said playing board surface, means to adjust the height and position of the barrier with respect to the said surface and means to provide channellike ball receiving pockets adjacent the lower portion of the barriers.

YVES 0. LE GUILLOU. 

